The body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will now spend the night at Lee Funeral Home, instead of his Karen residence as earlier planned.
The adjustment was announced by the Raila Odinga Funeral Committee, co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Odinga.
According to the revised program, once the public viewing at Nyayo Stadium concludes, the body will be transported to Lee Funeral Home for overnight preservation and final preparations ahead of its journey to Kisumu on Saturday morning.
Raila’s Body to Stay at Lee Funeral Home, Not Karen Home. Photo: Courtesy.
“The national funeral committee wishes to announce to the public that due to unavoidable circumstances, the body of the HE. The late Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga will not be taken to his Karen residence for an overnight stay as earlier planned. Instead, after public viewing that is currently going on at the Nyayo National Stadium, it will be taken back to the Lee Funeral Home for preservation in readiness for airlifting to Kisumu tomorrow (Saturday 18/10/2025) morning. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
According to the initial programme, Raila Odinga’s body was scheduled to be taken to Lee Funeral Home immediately after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday morning.
However, the plan was abandoned after thousands of mourners flooded the airport and major roads, slowing down the motorcade that was to proceed to the funeral home before heading to Parliament Buildings for public viewing.
As a result, the stop at the funeral home was cancelled, and the public viewing venue was shifted from Parliament Buildings to Kasarani Stadium to accommodate the overwhelming crowds.
Although the viewing had been slated to begin at midday, it started after 4 p.m. and continued late into the night.
